Rating: Summary: Exceptionally Disappointing Review: Hannibal has none of the terror and suspense of Silence of the Lambs. Thomas Harris writes this book with nothing more in mind that to see how much he can disgust the readers. The book is slow-moving and does not really capture your attention. I can truely understand why Jodie Foster has opted not to return to "Clairce Starling." I would do the same thing in her position.
Rating: Summary: Holy mother of God Review: The best sequal ever written? Yes and then some, Hannbal is the bench mark that I will hold all other suspense novels to. The transformation of the characters especially Starling is the greatest part of this novel. Hannibal Lectur as a caring domestic figure, I didn't think that it was possible but apparantly Lector is capable of absolutley anything. Lectors character is one that has to be read twice or miss the entirity of his opressive presence. With the addition of Mason Verger and that captivating side plot I became an instant Thomas Harris fan. Please if you have any form of stylistic taste buy this book.
Rating: Summary: I've never been so disappointed... Review: As I read the book I was constantly plagued by the weak writing and unbelievable events that happened in the story. There were many occasions that I had to read and re-read sentences or whole paragraphs to decypher the words, there were several times when I was unsuccessful. It was only by sheer force of will that I was able to finish the book. Once I had swallowed my disbelief and realized how Harris was going to end this waste of time I had to force myself to keep reading. I now look back at those 15 minutes as 15 minutes that I will never get back. When I consider the other ways I could have spent that time I am saddened. I could have used that time to clean a cats litter box and encounter better literature. If you feel you truly MUST read about Hannibal make sure it's the one with the elephants and not the unbelievable wet literary noodle in this collection of words. (I can't bring myself to call it a novel.)
Rating: Summary: He actually wanted to write a screenplay....he should have! Review: Harris didn't really want to write this book, and its painfully obvious after reading it. He actually wanted to write a sceenplay for the upcoming movie and that's just what he should have done instead of foisting this garbage off on his up-to-this-book fans. There must have been terrific pressure on him to produce a sequel. I'm sure large sums were offered and Harris probably buckled in and threw some words together in a short time. That's the real reason why he didn't allow any editing of the book. I wondered about that when the book came out, now its obvious why. I won't see the movie when it comes out and I'll encourage everyone in my circle to do the same. Harris should learn that you can't treat fans in such a shoddy manner and get away with it.
Rating: Summary: You must read this book Review: Hannibal is a truly excellent book. It sustains a feeling of uncertainty throughout the whole book and you don't know what's going to happen next. It is almost impossible to put it down due to the suspense created. A great read which you'll really enjoy.
Rating: Summary: Harris Meets Felini Review: I've enjoyed Harris's books and bought Hannibal as a knee-jerk reaction. Thru three-quarters of the book, I wasn't disappointed. Then, as if Harris got up from the typewriter and Felini sat down, the book simply crumbled from a full grown work into a meaningless satire of Harris' fans being willing to applaude anything with his name on it. The publisher should be ashamed in contributing to the process.
Rating: Summary: what, pray tell, was the point? Review: This book had alot of places to go. Some of those heights were soaring, the descriptions of Florence, the art and architecture, the cultural greatness of post Renaissance thinking. But, then, within that intellectual framework, to bring such unparalleled grossness that any pretension to culture, humanity or art is lost serves to cheapen the entire effort. Thus, we have Hannibal Lector in Florence. A genius, a very sensitive man with expanded nostrils for drinking in life's many fragrances who has opted for cannibalism, random murder and vivisection of victims to offset his more heavenly qualities. What to compliment him? Why, our little Starling or course. The unwanted bird floundering her way through the shark tank of federal bureaucrats almost ready to come to ground from exhaustion. Too many of them and not enough of her. I liked the book for the obvious research into personal behaviour and proclivities, but, why do we have to seek to bring the damned and sublime to the same, physically disgusting level of human death and cadaverous consumption? Harris throws out a large sweeping rope of psychosis which, in the end, does not overly satisfy the enquiring reader. Harris probably made alot of money for this effort, but his work bears the markings of a literary hack wandering into the realm of poetic license, plucking a few of the more perverse plums, and escaping with the reader wondering what bizarrness was this? Meanwhile, the author himself chuckles lightly at the teller window, verifying his latest advance. No wonder Jodie Foster has some problems with this ending. Anyone with half a brain ... would feel the same. Overall, a good effort, but unsatisfying in its final plot twist.
Rating: Summary: What! Review: What happened? Did Harris get writer's block toward the end of the book and knew he had a deadline? This was SO NOT even comparable to Silence of the Lambs. He must had a good day when he wrote that one! Don't buy this book, it is a total disappointment! No wonder, Jodie Foster will not be in the sequel, don't blame her at all!
Rating: Summary: What is this? Review: The only reason I bought this book was due to the fact that I rather enjoyed the movie Silence Of The Lambs. Although my expectations were a little high, this book falls way below, even lower than Michael Crichton. The book was incredibly boring from the beginning, and drags you all the way until near the end, where there is, at last, something interesting. And that's what I give the two stars for. Of course, you'll have to get the book to find out, I'm not about to spoil the best part of the book.
Rating: Summary: Disappointing Review: In this sequel to Silence of the Lambs, the focus has been shifted to Hannibal himself. The first two thirds of the book are well written and quickly capture the reader's attention and curiosity regarding the thinking processes of the obviously intelligent Hannibal. However, the last third of the book rapidly descends to a psychotic mish-mash of brainwashing, drugs, and bizarre cannibalistic rituals. The ending is disappointing and unbelievable. It seems that Hannibal's psyche is explored to its very depths, and beyond the *reality* he has created there is nothing of any substance.
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